This is Oregon

On this episode we're joined by Judith Sheine, Professor of Architecture and Director of Design of the TallWood Design Institute at the University of Oregon. She shares her work with mass timber innovation and what it means for environmental sustainability. Sheine also discusses how the TallWood Design Institute applies research to support the future of mass timber as a resilient material for buildings and rural economies. This is part one of our conversation with Judith Sheine.

Topics

• What is Mass Timber [00:33]
• What does biophilic mean? [3:04]
• Mass Timber, resilience and Environmental Sustainability [4:05]
• What is the TallWood Design Institute? [10:54]
• The future of mass timber, and UO's College of Design role in the vision [14:44]

Guest

• Judith Sheine, Professor of Architecture and Director of Design of the TallWood Design Institute at the University of Oregon

Resources

• Oregon's College of Design, learn about programs in architecture, landscape architecture, product design, and more, with opportunities to develop hands-on design skills and explore sustainable approaches to shaping the built environment.
• TallWood Design Institute, discover the collaborative research institute between University of Oregon and Oregon State University dedicated to advancing mass timber and wood product building solutions through testing, applied research, and educational opportunities for students interested in sustainable building.
• Oregon Mass Timber Coalition, find out more about bout the statewide partnership between research universities and government agencies working to grow Oregon's mass timber industry and strengthen a regional ecosystem for sustainable wood product innovation.

Quotes

• "Things that are really interesting about wood is that it can replace steel and concrete, and wood has been proven to have a lot of biophilic properties. There have been studies that show that wood environments in workplaces mean fewer absences, healthier environments, more productivity, and there's been studies done in schools and also in hospitals as well." [2:37]
• "So we do what is known as applied research, sometimes called use-inspired research, very closely aligned with industry, and that funding has enabled us to do, over 100 research projects since 2015, which is kind of amazing. So we've really helped to—in really every aspect of mass timber—so we've really helped to advance the industry. And so far the legislature seems very happy with what we're doing." [13:56]
• "We have made a very comprehensive, strategic plan for how to engage stakeholders across government, of course, university researchers, nonprofits, people in urban and rural communities—really everybody who could possibly be a stakeholder in this, finding ways to engage them and also to attract outside investment, to invest in startups, to invest in more buildings, and the University of Oregon has organized this very big strategic planning effort." [17:38]
• "I think that mass timber for the Northwest really has both enormous potential for economic development and for environmental stewardship, which is what the TallWood Design Institute was designed to promote. That's our mission." [18:31]

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode we're joined by Melaney Grenz, project manager for the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training, or CBIRT, at the University of Oregon. In this episode, she discusses how her work with CBIRT helps support people with Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBIs, what TBIs look like in everyday life, and what their impact can have on school, work, and daily function. Grenz also shares common misconceptions and practical advice for friends and families supporting someone with TBI.

Topics

• What does a project manager at CBIRT do? [00:55]
• CBIRT's role in brain injury recovery [1:29]
• TBI basics, the signs, and who's most at risk [2:31]
• Common misconceptions, biggest challenges, accommodations [6:21]
• Concussion Laws and Cultural Change [14:55]
• What's next for CBIRT [20:06]
• Friends and family advice [22:20]

Guest

• Melaney Grenz, project manager for the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) through the University of Oregon

Resources

• Lived Experiences with Traumatic Brain Injuries, listen to Melaney Grenz's podcast to hear real stories about TBIs and how they affect everyday life.
• CBIRT, learn more about the Center for Brain Injury Research and Training's work supporting and advocating for individuals with brain injuries, families, educators, and clinicians through research and training.
• CBIRT on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn, follow CBIRT on social media for resources, research updates, and tools that support people living with brain injuries.
• Oregon Return to School Model, find out more about Oregon's model for helping students successfully return to school after a concussion or brain injury.

Quotes

• "You know you've had a concussion, okay? You feel way different. It's scary. It's surreal. And each brain injury is different; they're like a snowflake. If you've seen one snowflake, you've seen one snowflake." [5:14]
• "If you think about a brain injury, it's not like another disability. It was unexpected. There's little the person could have done to prevent it, usually; they were unprepared." [6:37]
• "The risk of brain injury is 4 to 6 times greater after one [concussion] and eight times greater after two." [7:53]
• "Recovery's so variable depending on the injury— we can't say, "You know, in this much time you're going to be okay." No one can do that, right? We wish we could, but we do know that social support of the family is the best predictor of function and quality of life after brain injury, and I've said it so often that a brain injury adversely affects the entire family unit." [9:00]
• "All 50 states have a Return-to-Play law, but only 14 states have a Return-to-School law, with Oregon being one of them. Texas recently passed theirs. And so, we just continue to help other states. It's like, "You must have this in place." Our students are counting on us." [16:38]

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode we're joined by Beth Stormshak, Philip H. Knight Chair, Professor at UO's College of Education, Director of the Prevention Science Institute, and President and Founder of the Family Check-Up. Stormshak talks about the challenges families face in communicating with their children and how the Family Check-Up helps families thrive. She shares practical tips for supporting kids as they grow and explains why strong communication is such a powerful tool for families.

Topics

• The Biggest Challenges Families Face Today [1:15]
• Inside the Family Check-Up Model [3:26]
• How to Support Children's Development [5:41]
• Why Communication Matters in Prevention [10:16]
• Key Lessons for Supporting Kids [14:37]

Guest

• Beth Stormshak, Philip H. Knight Chair, Professor at UO's College of Education, Director of the Prevention Science Institute, and President and Founder of the Family Check-Up

Resources

• Family Check-Up, find out more about Stormshak's evidence-based model developed at UO aiming to help families strengthen communication, support positive child development, and reduce behavioral and emotional challenges in families.
• Prevention Science Institute at University of Oregon, learn more about UO's multidisciplinary research institute dedicated to studying ways to improve people's lives as they grow and change through research, training, and community programs.
• University of Oregon's College of Education, learn more about UO's programs in teaching, counseling, and human services, where students gain hands-on experience and practical skills to support children, families, and communities while preparing for careers in education, mental health, and related fields.

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode we're joined by Dr. Sunny Bai, Assistant Professor of Children's Behavioral Health and Psychology at the University of Oregon's Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health. Bai shares her latest research on family life, explores parent's communication styles with their children, and offers tips to support youth as the school year begins.

Topics

• The Science of Family Life [00:26]
• Inside Parent-Child Communication [6:06]
• Key Insights from Family Life Research [9:32]
• Supporting Youth Through School Stress [14:44]
• Surprising Findings in Family Research [19:50]

Guest

• Dr. Sunny Bai, Assistant Professor of Children's Behavioral Health and Psychology at the University of Oregon's Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health.

Resources

• Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health, learn more about UO's institute and facility on the Portland campus, which focuses on educating the next generation of children's behavioral health professionals, advancing research in child behavioral health, and providing community-based programs to support the mental health and well-being of children and families.
• Psychology Department at UO, explore UO's Department of Psychology, which offers programs to both undergraduate and graduate students interested in the study of human behavior, including areas such as child and adolescent development, biopsychology, and social behavior, while helping students build a foundation for careers in mental health, education, and related fields.
• SAFE Lab, find out about Dr. Bai's Strengthening Adolescents and Families Everyday (SAFE) lab, where research examines family life, the effects of stress on parent—child relationships, and how internalizing disorders in adolescence affect children and families, with hands-on opportunities for students seeking research experience to contribute to ongoing projects.

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode we're joined by Ariel Williamson, a licensed psychologist & assistant professor at The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health and The Department of Psychology, to explore how children's sleep habits affect their emotional well-being, behavior, and learning. Williamson discusses why sleep is foundational for kids' health, how families can recognize when sleep routines are off track, and shares practical strategies to help children get the rest they need—especially during the back-to-school transition.

Topics

• Why sleep is a pillar of children's health [4:27]
• The biggest challenges in shifting from summer to school-year routines [6:28]
• Common sleep problems and how many kids are affected [9:05]
• Recommended sleep amounts by age and how to adapt them for your child [11:56]
• Bedtime battles: why they happen and how to ease them [15:13]
• Causes of poor sleep, from environment to stress and mental health [18:20]
• When to seek help from a doctor or specialist [24:36]
• Why "one size does not fit all" when it comes to kids' sleep [27:40]

Guest

• Ariel A. Williamson, PhD, Licensed Psychologist & Assistant Professor, The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health and The Department of Psychology

Resources

• www.babysleep.com The Pediatric Sleep Council offers free, evidence-based advice about child sleep patterns and problems.
• Nemours/Kids Health provides information for both kids and families about children's sleep.
• Start Schools Later is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting healthy teen sleep by moving school start times later to better align with adolescents' social and biological rhythms. The site explains why teens tend to stay up later and sleep in later and offers other tips to promote healthy teen sleep.

Quotes from the Episode

• "It's important to consider sleep as a pillar of health, just as you would with getting optimal physical activity and healthy eating." [4:37]
• "Sleep and mental health are really bi-directionally related, meaning they influence one another. The same is the case for sleep and other outcomes like pain , for example, or chronic illness." [5:28]
• "That's one of our most robust or our strongest findings is that teens are not lazy. They're not just trying to be night owls and stay up all night for no reason. It's really determined by a biological shift" [11:01]
• "It's doing the best you can to get your child enough sleep and changes can be small. This might mean that you put your child in bed 15 minutes earlier, and you lay out things in the morning so they can get up 15 minutes later, and that's 30 more minutes of sleep. And we have studies that showed that 30 to 60 more minutes of sleep really can have a benefit to next day functioning. [14:32]
• "For sleep, one size does not fit all." [27:40]

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode we're joined by Jordan Troester, Director of Performance and Sports Science at Oregon Athletics department. Jordan discusses his work at Oregon Athletics and Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance at Oregon, what it's like to be a sports scientist, he shares his advice to runners and debunks some common misconceptions about sports science and sports science research.

Topics

• Inside the day-to-day of directing performance and sports science [1:08]
• The game-changing "profile load and monitor" model in applied sports science [3:49]
• Driving innovation with the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance [7:01]
• Winning strategies for race day prep [11:21]
• Strategies to boost your health and performance that go beyond cardio and strength[17:30]
• Innovations reshaping athlete training and recovery [21:31]

Guest

• Jordan Troester, Director of Performance and Sports Science at Oregon Athletics

Resources

• Oregon Athletics, learn more about University of Oregon's athletics department and the integrated support systems in place to help student-athletes thrive, from sport performance, recovery, to academic development and leadership training.
• Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, explore the groundbreaking research initiative here at Oregon that brings together scientists, coaches, and clinicians to help advance research in human performance through collaboration in movement science, sports science, recovery, and injury prevention.
• GSUN, find out more about the Global Sport University Network, a summit where universities from around the world come together to share research, practices, innovations that contribute to the advancement of sports science, athlete development, and human performance education.

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode we're joined by Lauren Hallett, associate professor at the University of Oregon's Department of Biology. Hallett discusses her ongoing work to enhance the climate resiliency of Oregon's hazelnut farms, which account for 99% of the country's hazelnut production. With the support of a $2 million federal award, Hallett and her lab have designed an agricultural practice using native cover crops and basalt dust amendments to set a new standard for sustainable hazelnut farming.

Topics

• Hallett's first experience partnering with hazelnut farms [1:02]
• The benefits and challenges of growing hazelnuts in Oregon [3:20]
• How to make hazelnuts climate-resilient with native cover crops [5:12]
• What farmers and growers think of native cover crops [13:00]
• Investigating basalt as a climate-mitigating alternative to lime [17:04]
• The current barriers preventing widespread adoption of native cover crops and basalt on hazelnut farms [21:36]
• The need to personalize farming solutions and avoid 'one-size-fits-all' [25:28]

Guest

• Lauren Hallett, associate professor in the Department of Biology, the Environmental Studies Program, and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution

More Information

• Hallett Lab, learn about Hallett and her team's research projects in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management
• U.S. Department of Agriculture awards $2 million to the UO to work with local hazelnut farmers, read more about the research and partnerships discussed in this episode.
• [VIDEO] Benefits of Native Cover Crops, listen to UO's Marissa Lane-Massee discuss the benefits of native cover crops in hazelnut farms
• 99% of U.S. hazelnuts are grown in these eight Oregon counties, learn more about the Oregon hazelnut farming industry.

Quotes from the Episode

• "Climate shocks, like the heat dome in June of 2021, can be really hard on orchards, especially on baby trees. And so, increased heat waves and drought...will challenge the sustainability of the industry overall."
• "We've been developing cover crop mixes, and we're especially using mixes that use native plants to help improve the soil and reduce runoff and erosion. And having plants on the ground also lowers the temperature of the soils, which is really important as we look towards future heatwaves."
• "This one is a newer idea for us, but we've started trialing basalt dust amendments as a replacement for liming in orchards...The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has viewed basalt dust amendments as potentially one of the most powerful natural climate solutions but also the one with the biggest uncertainty."
• "For now, and I would imagine for a long time, the viability of the practice will require partnerships between interested growers and conservation-focused organizations that will subsidize the seed cost."
• "There's also a cultural component — to a lot of growers, they like the aesthetic of a bare and clean orchard floor. And so, when I say native plants flowering in orchards are beautiful, it's a perfect example of beauty in the eye of the beholder, right? To me they are, but tastes vary."
• "There's no one-right-cover-crop...so while a lot of our tact has been trying to build up these native species cover crops, we're also trialing other kinds of best case, more affordable, conventional — but maybe also unconventional — cultivated species that that could help fill this matrix of different reasons to have cover crops: different needs, different constraints."

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode, we're joined by Keely McMahon, an alum of the School of Journalism and Communication's advertising program. Keely shares about her experience studying at the SOJC and how her studies prepared her for success working behind the scenes of the 2024 Big Ten Football Championship Game.

Topics

• Why Oregon? [0:48]
• Student experience in the SOJC [2:05]
• Navigating post-graduation [3:15]
• The day-to-day as a junior strategist [7:12]
• Lessons from the SOJC [8:12]
• Behind the scenes at the Big Ten Championship [11:05]
• Key lessons and insights [12:37]

Guest

• Keely McMahon, BS '23 (advertising)

Resources

• SOJC undergraduate advertising program, learn more about the advertising program within the School of Journalism and Communication, where you can build creative and strategic skills for a future in the advertising industry.
• Ad Team, discover more about the hands-on opportunities offered by Ad Team from building mock campaigns to competing in the National Student Advertising Competition.
• School of Journalism and Communication, explore the UO's School of Journalism and Communication and the many resources and experiences it provides to guide students in journalism, advertising, media studies, and public relations majors to grow their storytelling, media, and strategic communication skills.
• After Hours, check out this student organization for SOJC advertising students focused on creative collaboration and building a portfolio through workshops, a mentorship program, and a weekly newsletter helping students explore the resources provided at the UO.
• Duck TV, learn about the professional practicum for broadcast students at the SOJC. At Duck TV, students get hands-on experience in television studio production, anchoring, and field reporting and shooting.

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode, we're joined by Sam Berman, a double Duck and alum of the Lundquist College of Business's master of business administration program. Sam talks about her experience working behind the scenes of Oregon's beach volleyball and indoor volleyball teams and the Women in Flight program, and how those opportunities propelled her into her current role working at the College Football Playoff.

Topics

• Interest in sports business [2:26]
• Defining moments from Sam's experience [7:15]
• Working at the College Football Playoff [12:00]
• Crafting your story [15:21]
• The importance of making connections and networking [18:47]

Guest

• Sam Berman, BS '22, MBA '24 (sports business)

Resources

• Oregon Women's Beach Volleyball, learn about the team, buy tickets to a match, and more.
• Oregon Women's Volleyball, learn about the team, buy tickets to a match, and more.
• Women in Flight, learn about the program and how it raises awareness and financial support for Oregon's women's athletic programs.
• Warsaw Sports Business Center, discover the first-ever Sports Business Center designed to help students gain hands-on experience and develop skills in the growing industry of sports business within the Lundquist College of Business.
• Oregon MBA Sports Business specialization, learn about the unique opportunities to build your network and get hands-on experience in the sports industry.
• Lundquist College of Business, explore opportunities to gain valuable insights into the world of sports business within the Lundquist College of Business.

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts

On this episode, we're joined by Kai Jones, a second-year master of business administration student and a player development graduate assistant for Oregon Athletics. Kai talks about her work behind the scenes of player development and how her experiences have inspired her career aspiration to become a director of player development.

Topics

• Why Oregon? [1:23]
• What is player development? [2:58]
• Education, experience, and player development in action [8:16]
• Mentorship vs. sponsorship [12:21]
• Tips for success [18:16]

Guest

• Kai Jones, second-year MBA student (Sports Business)

Resources

• National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), learn about the professional association serving intercollegiate athletics administrators by offering networking opportunities, professional development, and resources for leadership in player development in college sports.
• National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A), explore the organization under NACDA focused on connecting academics to developing students' interest and abilities for student-athlete development.
• Minority Opportunities Athletic Association (MOAA)
• Warsaw Sports Business Center, discover the first-ever Sports Business Center designed to help students gain hands-on experience and develop skills in the growing industry of sports business within the Lundquist College of Business.
• Oregon MBA Sports Business specialization, learn about the unique opportunities to build your network and get hands-on experience in the sports industry.
• Lundquist College of Business, explore opportunities to gain valuable insights into the world of sports business within the Lundquist College of Business.

Listen to more episodes and explore the Oregon Podcast Network at news.uoregon.edu/podcasts